England are taking no chances with the fitness of Steven Finn as they begin to fine-tune preparations for the defence of their ICC World Twenty20 crown.
The fast bowler complained of a stiff back on Wednesday, and was therefore replaced by Chris Woakes for England's final NatWest Series match against South Africa, and James Anderson was added to the squad as like-for-like cover for Finn in three NatWest Twenty20 Internationals against the same opponents.
Finn was a revelation on England's otherwise unsuccessful one-day international tour of India last autumn, and has consistently been their best white-ball bowler ever since.
The 23-year-old must, however, rate a significant doubt to take part in at least the first of three matches in six days against South Africa - at the Emirates Durham ICG on Saturday.
It was at the Chester-le-Street venue that Finn caught the eye especially two months ago when he recorded figures of four for 37 to set up an eight-wicket victory over Australia, which was part of England's 4-0 NatWest Series trouncing of their Ashes rivals.
He earned conspicuous praise from Australia captain Michael Clarke, and given the form Finn has already shown on the sub-continent, his presence for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka this month and next will be highly-prized by England.
It was already clear, after Finn's absence on Wednesday from what turned out to be a seven-wicket hammering as South Africa levelled the ODI series at Trent Bridge, that he would not be unduly risked.
Captain Alastair Cook said: "He wasn't fit to play. If he was, we'd have played him.
"You do have to be careful with the amount of cricket coming up. It was a very sensible decision, I think.
"It would have looked quite stupid if he'd tried to play and it had then suddenly got worse."
